Although Theodore Bikel has been gone for almost 10  years, his remarkable life and legacy, his contributions in the fields of music, drama, yiddishkeit and tikkun olam continue to influence and move us. 

Theo Bikel’s contributions to music, film, television and literature are astounding; he has worked tirelessly for the preservation and revival of our Yiddish culture.  Even more important to him are his efforts and achievements for Tikkun Olam, as an activist for peace in Israel and in the world, for Jewish causes, for human rights and for the dignity of workers and the poor.

As a stage actor, he was best known for as Tevye (he played the role over 2,000 times), and for creating the role of Captain von Trapp on Broadway in the Sound of Music (the song “Edelweiss” was written for him personally). Theo was also a distinguished, Oscar nominated film actor, in such films as My Fair Lady, The African Queen, The Russians Are coming, and the Defiant Ones. He has acted in over 30 major films.   His last film,  the documentary “In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem”, was made only a few years before he passed, and was his tour de force. 

Theo had a wonderful career as a TV actor, as well; His roles cover an amazing range of characterizations: from a Scottish policeman in “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” to Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, to Henry Kissinger in “The Final Days” and the role which earned him his Emmy Award in 1988 for his role as the 82-year old Harris Newmark, the first Jew to settle in LA. He has also guest starred in All In The Family, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, and countless more.

But Theo was perhaps best loved for his musical career. Co-founder of the Newport Folk Festival, he recorded 37 albums—over 20 on the Elektra label.  Considered one of the founding fathers of American folk music he has sung with Pete Seeger and the Weavers and was responsible for the establishment of world folk music, singing and recording songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino and Russian- bringing the love of Yiddish and Israeli songs into the vogue with American listeners. Theo always believed that music can create a bridge to Peace and dedicated his own music towards that goal.

Besides his career as a performer, Theo Bikel was a tireless activist for Human rights, for justice, and for peace, deeply involved in both Jewish issues as well as the betterment of the live of fellow workers and fellow citizens. Theo marched in the fight for civil rights. He was president of Actors Equity, Senior VP of the American Jewish Congress (where he made real and tangible gains for Jewish orthodox poor), a Board Member of Amnesty International and a member of the National Council on the Arts.  Theo’s inspiration continues to instill a love of justice, Judaism, music and the arts in us all.

Aimee Ginsburg Bikel is an award-winning journalist, author, poet, public speaker and social justice organizer. She is the founding director of the Theodore Bikel Legacy Project. She has lived in Israel, India, and the United States and her work has been published worldwide. She served as the senior Israeli India Correspondent for more than a decade, covering all news out of South Asia for the Israeli news media and for other publications worldwide. She was also active in the Indian press, writing and giving interviews about Jewish and Israeli affairs. Aimee also has extensive experience as a radio editor and host. She has spoken to audiences around the world about her work and life experiences and is currently on tour with her book, "The City Of Light".   Her first volume of poetry, "Take Me With You" will be published in 2026.